To study the possibility and mechanisms of graphene growth on uranium, thorium and other metals to form a protective layer. To characterised the grown graphene layer and its ageing in difficult environments.

Expected results

It has been demonstrated recently, that graphene can serve as a completely impermeable membrane on a surface of a metal. Furthermore, as graphene can be grown conformal on a piece of metal of any shape, it can be used as a corrosion protection. We would like to use graphene as a corrosion protection on uranium, thorium and other metals.

Different metals allow for different mechanisms of graphene growth. We will investigate a possibility of graphene growth on uranium, thorium and other metals, the mechanisms of such growth and will optimise the process. Growth on Tantalum will first be investigated. The student will get familiar with the basic methods of graphene characterisation (AFM, SEM, Raman, etc). and develop new methods to characterise graphene on uranium.

CERN, Switzerland – 11 months – The growth of graphene on radioactive metals such as uranium and thorium, for the production of yet inaccessible isotopes by mass separation, such as 99Molybdenum, will be undertaken at CERN.